Streaming in the Spotlight: How the Online Safety Act Could Change What We Watch

25 September 2025

Paul Francis

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The UK’s Online Safety Act is already one of the most sweeping pieces of internet regulation in the world. Designed to make the online world safer, especially for children, it places new duties on digital platforms to tackle harmful and illegal content. So far, its reach has been felt by social media platforms, video-sharing services, search engines, and adult content providers. But with new rules coming into force, the focus is shifting: streaming platforms and video-on-demand services are next in line.

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What Has the Online Safety Act Changed So Far?

The Act has already reshaped the way some of the biggest tech platforms operate in the UK. Social media giants like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram now face legal duties to remove illegal content quickly and protect younger users from harmful material. Ofcom, which oversees the Act, has also required stricter “age assurance” systems on sites where children could be exposed to explicit or harmful content.

Online pornography providers have been directly targeted, with obligations to block under-18s unless robust age verification is in place. Search engines, meanwhile, have been tasked with reducing how easily harmful content can be discovered. Even niche sites, such as forums and community-driven platforms, have had to carry out risk assessments and change their moderation practices.

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Are Streaming Services Already Covered by the Act?

Until recently, streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video sat largely outside the Online Safety Act’s framework. Instead, they were regulated separately under a “video-on-demand” system, which was lighter in scope.

That changed in July 2025, when the old video-sharing platform regime was repealed and its rules folded into the Online Safety Act. This means that platforms previously regulated under those rules now fall squarely under the Online Safety Act’s duties, including obligations to tackle illegal content and protect children. While this primarily hit platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok, the shift has opened the door for traditional streaming services to face similar scrutiny.

Why Is the Government Interested in Regulating Streaming Platforms?

Streaming services have become the default way people consume television and film in the UK. With millions of households relying on them daily, the government argues that it is only fair that they face similar standards to traditional broadcasters.

A consultation launched by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) asked whether platforms such as Netflix should meet rules on fairness, privacy, and accuracy. These are already applied to public service broadcasters like the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4. The aim is to create a “level playing field” between old and new media, especially as younger audiences increasingly prefer streaming over linear TV.

What Might Change for Viewers?

If the proposals go ahead, viewers could see stricter content standards applied to streaming services. That might mean clearer age ratings, better content warnings, and stricter controls over what children can access. There could also be rules ensuring content is not misleading or harmful, especially in documentary or factual programming.

Another area under discussion is “discoverability.” Public service broadcasters have raised concerns that UK-made content is being buried beneath international shows on streaming platforms. New rules could require services to make UK programming more visible, much as TV guides once gave prominence to BBC and ITV schedules.

Could Smaller Streaming Platforms Be Affected Too?

Yes. While much of the debate focuses on household names like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, the Online Safety Act does not only apply to global giants. Any platform making content available to UK audiences could fall under the scope, including niche services and independent VoD providers.

This raises questions about whether smaller platforms will be able to afford the compliance costs. Age verification, moderation, and discoverability systems are expensive to build and maintain. Some critics fear that the rules could stifle innovation or even push smaller providers out of the UK market.

What Does This Mean for the Future of Online Entertainment?

For viewers, the changes could result in safer and more transparent streaming experiences, especially for families. For companies, however, the Online Safety Act represents another layer of compliance, on top of licensing agreements, regional rights, and international regulations.

Streaming services are watching closely as Ofcom develops its new Video-on-Demand Code. The final rules will determine how far they must go to meet broadcaster-style standards. If the UK is seen as too restrictive, some services could scale back their UK operations, while others may choose to double down on compliance and market it as a badge of safety.

Could the UK Become a Model for Other Countries?

The UK is one of the first major markets to apply such sweeping safety legislation to both social platforms and, potentially, streaming services. Other countries are observing closely. If the system works, the Online Safety Act could become a template for regulating streaming platforms globally. But if the rules are too heavy-handed, there is a risk of backlash from both companies and users, who may see it as a threat to choice and creativity online.

The Online Safety Act has already reshaped the digital landscape in the UK, forcing major platforms to rethink how they moderate and present content. Streaming services are now next in line for regulation, and while the full impact remains to be seen, the direction of travel is clear. The days of streaming being a free-for-all are ending. What replaces it will be a more regulated, safety-focused environment that balances protecting users with preserving freedom of choice.

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Bricks to Clicks: Why Physical Businesses Must Embrace Digital

Toby Patrick
3 days ago
3 min read

The dot-com bubble of the 90s presented businesses with the option of moving part of their business online. Today, it’s not really an option to be online; it’s a necessity. And that applies to every business, whether you’re selling sustainable fashion garments or providing local building services. In this article, we’ll focus on those businesses that are entirely physical in the service they are providing, and outline why even the most physical companies must have a digital presence in today’s world.

Laptop showing Facebook ads page on wooden desk with a yellow cup, camera, white mouse, and red pencil. Bright, focused workspace.

The Shifting Consumer Landscape

Whether we like it or not, the way customers shop has changed. A trip to the local high street or shopping centre is no longer the first point of call; even word of mouth isn’t as important as it once was. That’s because everything has gone online. Ecom stores have replaced brick and mortar and Google has replaced recommendations to a certain extent.

For businesses providing a physical service, such as plumbing or conservatory conversions, digital is where they’re often discovered. Whether that’s via a search engine, a social media ad or a blog post, digital has become the new playground for lead generation, even for services that are totally physical.

If you need a reason to embrace digital as a physical company, look no further than your competitors. Even the most traditional of businesses are active on social, implementing some form of SEO and putting time into their website. If this is something your competitors are doing while you’re still exclusively focusing on offline marketing channels, you’re losing ground.

You only need to look at some of the leading brands that have gone out of business during the physical revolution. Many have done so as a result of ignoring the importance of the online world.

Benefits of Going Digital

If you still need convincing that digital can be a profitable investment for an entirely physical company, let’s take a look at some of the benefits of going digital.

Reach

Ignoring online lead gen means your business is entirely reliant on channels such as word of mouth and footfall from physical stores. This massively localises your company and makes it very difficult to move into new geographical markets. Online marketing removes geographical barriers and allows you to reach every corner of the globe.

Customer Service

As a physical company, the service you provide your customers is essential and will ultimately determine whether or not customers return to you in the future, as well as if they recommend you to friends and family. Digital offers another place where you can offer five-star customer service, whether that’s responding to messages or adding a chatbot to your website.

Sales

While physical businesses and service providers may make most of their cash offline, digital can be used as a secondary sales channel to increase revenue. A great example of this would be a gym selling merchandise through its website.

Common Misconceptions

There are a few common misconceptions around the value of digital to businesses that operate offline.

Cost

Those who aren’t familiar with digital view it as a costly expense. In reality, digital channels have helped countless businesses to cut costs. It’s also worth pointing out that the digital world has become so accessible that the cost of taking a business online is cheaper than ever and will probably continue to drop. For a lead gen business, the cost of acquiring a customer through a digital ad could actually be lower than acquiring through a physical ad, and the sheer amount of online customers could easily see a business’s cost per lead drop significantly.

Customers

Many businesses assume that their customers aren’t online, whether that’s due to age, interests or another factor. In reality, everyone is online today. The days of older generations not being tech savvy have gone, and many over 60s are active on social media as well as other digital channels.

Complexity

Perhaps the biggest reason to avoid the digital world is the perceived complexity of it. While it can seem daunting to those who have limited experience, digital tools, courses, and tutorials make it a fairly seamless transition. There’s also a huge pool of young talent who can assist in this area. For small businesses with a limited budget, it may be worth exploring the option of working with apprentices or interns.

Final Thoughts

Businesses that generate sales offline may see the digital world as a risk. But it’s worth considering that the biggest risk could come in the form of not adapting to a digital-first world. As already mentioned, failing to keep up with the times has been the death of even multi-national brands in the last 20 years. For small businesses that are hesitant to take their business online, consider small ways you can adapt digitally and increase your online presence.